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The Sun Belt Conference finished its annual Fall Meetings on Wednesday that had taken place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans, La. The meetings began Tuesday with an address from NCAA President Mark Emmert and his report to the membership shaped conversation for the meeting about the future of collegiate
athletics governance.

Currently there is a comprehensive review of the collegiate athletics governance structure taking place in preparation for the NCAA Division I Board of Directors being held at the end of the month and the NCAA Convention in January.

“I am confident that the Sun Belt Conference and its membership will play a significant role in the continuing and upcoming discussions regarding the collegiate athletics governance structure, said SBC Commissioner Karl Benson. “We are firmly planted in the current FBS structure and will continue to be.”

While conference membership was a topic of discussion, the conference meetings were more focused on moving forward with the membership structure that will soon be in place.

The Sun Belt Conference is contesting the 2013 football season with eight members – Arkansas State, Georgia State, UL-Lafayette, UL-Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy and Western Kentucky University. UALR and UT Arlington compete as non-football members. Come the 2014 season, the Sun Belt will have four new members in the league as Appalachian State and Georgia Southern were added as all-sports members and Idaho and New Mexico State have been added as football playing members.

The Sun Belt Conference’s annual Fall Meeting includes the senior staff of the conference office along with each member school’s Chief Executive Officer, Faculty Athletic Representative, Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator. Representatives from future members Appalachian State and Georgia Southern along with future football playing members Idaho and New Mexico State were also in attendance.